HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — There are several roads across the Tampa Bay area with speed limits higher than what's recommended by national practice, according to Hillsborough County transportation leaders. Data shows that could be contributing to dangerous and deadly crashes.
Some sections of road across the Tampa Bay area have speed limits that are as much as 20 miles per hour over the recommended speed limit per national standards.
With the concerning numbers of people hurt and killed on roadways in Hillsborough County, transportation leaders say a multi-pronged approach is needed to stop injuries and deaths.
They say the first is looking at where speed limits are too high because that often plays a huge role in the severity of a crash.
Some of those areas in Hillsborough County include Meridian and Channelside Drive, where the speed limit is 40 mph, but recommendations have it between 20 and 30 mph. Also, a stretch of road near Fletcher and Armenia Avenues, where speeds are as high as 40 mph, but recommendations have it no more than 30 miles per hour.
Additionally, there are speed management concerns on Dale Mabry, from Hillsborough to Bearss Avenues, 56th Street, from Sligh Avenue to Busch Boulevard, I-4, from I-275 to 22nd Street, U.S. 301 from I-75 to Adamo drive, and many more.
Transportation leaders also found through a speed management study in Hillsborough County that there are several common links in deadly crashes in the Bay Area. Many involve people under the age of 35, occur on "dark-lighted" streets and on streets that have speed limits at 40 miles per hour and above.
Aggressive, erratic, and reckless driving also play a major role in deadly crashes, according to the report.
Contact Hillsborough County about speed limit concerns in your area by emailing PWCustomerResolution@HCFLGov.net or calling (813) 635-5400.
